Ways Your Lawn Could Be Harming Your Pet

In Florida, we’re able to enjoy our yards year round. Now that Fall is approaching, even more time will be spent enjoying the outdoors with family, friends, and pets. Your yard should not only be beautiful, but it should also not have plants toxic to dogs. There are a great many things that might be a part of your landscape that could harm your pet, and keeping a lookout for these things can prevent a tragedy.

One of the most beautiful parts of any lawn are the flowers. Not only are they pleasing to the eye, but they smell wonderful as well. So how could those be a danger to your beloved family pet? Several flower species are poisonous when eaten by animals. Some produce berries that can be toxic, but your dog or cat doesn’t know better. They know it smells delicious, looks delicious, so it must be delicious. Some examples of plants that you might find in your backyard but are poisonous to your pet are Poinsettias, Easter Lillies and Alocasia. For cat owners, the lily plant is very toxic to cats. Just a small bite can quickly lead to kidney failure. If you’re not sure whether your plants could potentially be toxic to your pet, give the pros at Ground Source a call, because it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

Another part of a gorgeous landscape are the trees. How can a tree harm a pet, you might ask. Well, look up at the tree. Are there branches that could potentially fall down? Could a strong breeze blow a limb and fall, injuring our pet if they are nearby? The last thing anyone wants is for their beloved family pet to be trapped under, or injured by a stray tree limb. Removing stray branches and keeping trees pruned and beautiful not only help ensure the safety of your pet, but also keep your lawn looking beautiful year round.

What about pesticides? Where are you keeping yours? On the side of the house? Somewhere that might be easy for your pet, or even your child, to get to? What about your Lawn Care equipment. Are your shears, axes, mowers, saws, etc. in a place where a child or pet could stumble upon it, potentially hurting themselves? All of these items could lead to serious injury for anyone who comes across them and doesn’t know how to properly handle the lawn equipment. Making sure that pesticides,

Herbicides, fertilizers, other lawn treatment chemicals, and all lawn maintenance equipment is safely put away where children and pets cannot access them is key to preventing a trip to the hospital or vet.

There are all sorts of critters living in your yard. Many of them are harmless, but there are some to keep an eye out for. Slugs and snails might be living around your house and to get rid of them you might use slug and snail baits. The bait comes in a variety of different forms, but all forms are dangerous for dogs. As most dog owners know, they’re willing to put nearly anything in their mouth that might seem appetizing at the time. But after they snack on the bait, they can show signs of distress, such as vomiting, tremors, high body temperature, etc. in as few as two hours. Another critter to look out for are spiders and other bugs that may bite. If you have a dog house or other outdoor enclosure, be sure to check it regularly and hose down the area. Do not use pesticides in areas where your dog will be, as it can pose a serious health risk to your pet.

While there are some risks, don’t let that deter you from enjoying time in your yard with man’s (or woman’s) best friend! After you’ve taken care of the hazards that might be in your yard, make it a fun space for you and your pets. Go out and buy some fun toys for you and your pet to enjoy in your beautiful Florida yard.

If you need help identifying any of these risks, adding safe hardscapes, redoing landscapes, or installing a new irrigation system in your lawn, give the professionals at Ground Source a call. We will help make your yard beautiful and a pet friendly place to spend time throughout the year.